Perfectly cooked salmon in 12 minutes flat — crispy on the outside, silky and flaky within. The air fryer makes foolproof salmon effortless, and a simple lemon herb butter melted over the top makes it feel genuinely special. Healthy, fast, and stunning.
Tick off ingredients as you go
Make the herb butter: mix the softened butter with the lemon zest, lemon juice, dill, parsley, and garlic. Season well. Roll into a log in cling film and refrigerate. (This can be done well ahead.)
Pat the salmon fillets completely dry with kitchen paper — this is essential for crispy skin. Brush all over with olive oil.
Mix the smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and rub all over the flesh side of the salmon.
Preheat your air fryer to 200°C for 3 minutes. Place the salmon fillets skin-side down in the air fryer basket — don't overlap.
Tip: If your air fryer runs hot, reduce to 190°C. Every model is slightly different
Air fry for 10–12 minutes until the flesh is opaque and flakes easily when pressed with a fork. The internal temperature should reach 52–55°C for medium (slightly pink in the centre) or 60°C for well done.
Immediately place a thick slice of herb butter on top of each fillet and allow it to melt. Serve at once with green vegetables and lemon wedges.
Room temperature fish cooks more evenly — take it out of the fridge 15 minutes before cooking
Pat the fish completely dry before seasoning — moisture is the enemy of crispy skin
The herb butter can be made in a big batch and frozen, ready to use any time
For extra flavour, add a splash of soy sauce to the spice rub
Instead of Salmon → use Sea bass, cod, or trout fillets
Adjust cooking time for thinner fillets — check at 8 minutes
Instead of Butter → use Vegan butter or olive oil drizzle
For dairy-free — still delicious, just less rich
Instead of Smoked paprika → use Cajun spice blend
Adds a lovely kick
Cooked salmon can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Flake and use in salads or pasta.
Air fry at 160°C for 3–4 minutes to reheat without drying out. Alternatively, flake cold into salads.
Per 1 fillet with herb butter (approx. 220g)
390kcal
Calories
42g
Protein
2g
Carbs
23g
Fat
0g
Fibre
* Nutritional information is approximate and provided as a guide only. Values may vary depending on exact ingredients used.
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